At Wright-Whitaker Sports Complex, there isn’t much separating the court from the crowd. Texas beach volleyball fans stand just a few feet from the sand, creating an interactive and high-energy atmosphere.

This environment has become familiar for the Longhorns, as they have spent the past two weekends competing at home.

“It’s so good to play at home,” senior and Austin native Chloe Charles said. “Having family here was super fun, and the fan base is so great. Being able to perform in front of them is a great feeling.”

Texas does not fail to fill the bleachers at every home match. Whether it’s friends, family or on-campus organizations that attend, having fans there creates a noticeably different atmosphere for the players.

“I think we, for sure, have the best home court environment,” redshirt senior Katie Hashman said. “I think that makes it way more fun, and it makes it so much more high energy and enjoyable to play … and then catch some other teams off guard if they’re not used to that sort of environment.”

Texas used its home court advantage to defeat then-No. 1 UCLA for the first time this season and take down then-No. 3 USC in the Texas Invitational.

Facing top competitors on the Longhorns’ home court and being able to gather energy from the crowd reflects just how far the young program has come.

“It’s a sense of pride, for sure,” head coach Stein Metzger said. “Our goal was to build a program into national prominence as fast as possible, and I like the trajectory that we’re on.”

Texas has created that “prominence” not only by playing their best on the court but also through their social media presence.

“Our goal is to build the most followed collegiate beach volleyball team in the country,” Metzger said. “We’re No. 2 in Instagram following of all the collegiate programs. … That just shows you the power of Texas and the eyes that are on Texas.”

Metzger emphasized that visibility goes hand in hand with winning.

“The more we win, the more people are going to come out,” Metzger said. “We’re doing our part, and I think we’ve got a great product, and people are recognizing that it’s really fun out here.”

Metzger says that music playing through matches and players supporting their teammates from the sidelines helps create an environment that is highly competitive but still entertaining.

“The party doesn’t stop,” Metzger said. “It’s an all-day affair … it’s a little more loose and relaxed, but the competition is still very serious.”

As Texas continues to climb in the rankings, sitting ranked at No. 3, its attention is only increasing. Metzger remains focused on keeping the team grounded.

“The goal is to always climb in the rankings,” Metzger said. “We can’t listen to the shoulds. You just got to go out there and play your best volleyball and let the chips fall.”

The Longhorns will continue their stint at home next weekend when they host the University of Texas at El Paso and Houston Christian for the Lone Star Classic on April 18.